Suction valve assembly of reciprocating compressor

ABSTRACT

In a reciprocating compressor including a piston slide-inserted into the compression space of the cylinder, having a gas path therein, inducing a fluid into the compression space through the gas path and varying a volume of the compression space while performing a linear reciprocating motion with a mover of a reciprocating motor; a suction valve combined with the front end of the piston detachably and adjusting suctioning of the fluid into the compression space; and a discharge valve combined with the front end of the piston detachably and opening/closing the compression space of the cylinder in the linear reciprocating motion of the piston, a suction valve assembly of a reciprocating compressor includes an elastic member for absorb impact of the suction valve in clash and a combining member consisting of a head portion having a width so as to be overlapped with part of an opening/closing portion of the suction valve or a retainer and a valve seat, and accordingly a reliability of the compressor can be improved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a reciprocating compressor, andin particular to a suction valve assembly of a reciprocating compressorwhich is capable of reducing valve crashing sound occurred inopening/closing of a suction valve, preventing breakage of the suctionvalve due to clash against the front end of a piston and improving anopening/closing speed of the suction valve installed on the front end ofthe piston and restricting suction of a coolant gas.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] In general, a reciprocating compressor is for compressing a fluidsuch as air or coolant gas, etc. A compressor includes a motor partinstalled inside a sealed casing and generating a driving force; and acompression part for sucking and compressing a coolant gas by receivingthe driving force of the motor part.

[0005] According to a gas compression mechanism of the motor part andthe compression part, the compressor is divided into a rotarycompressor, a reciprocating compressor and a scroll compressor, etc.

[0006] In more detail, in the reciprocating compressor, a driving forceof a motor part is transmitted to a piston, the piston performs a linearreciprocating motion inside a cylinder, and a coolant gas is sucked, iscompressed and is discharged according to the motion. FIG. 1 is alongitudinal sectional view illustrating an embodiment of theconventional reciprocating compressor.

[0007] As depicted in FIG. 1, the conventional reciprocating compressorincludes a casing 10 in which a gas suction pipe SP and a gas dischargepipe DP are combined; a frame unit 20 elastically supported inside thecasing; a reciprocating motor 30 fixed inside the casing 10 by beingsupported by the frame unit 20; a compression unit 40 mechanicallyconnected to the reciprocating motor 30 and supported by the frame unit20; and a resonance spring unit 50 for inducing resonance by elasticallysupporting a mover 33 of the reciprocating motor 30 and a piston 42 ofthe compression unit 40.

[0008] The frame unit 20 includes a front frame having a rough shape, amiddle frame 22 and a rear frame 23.

[0009] The compression unit 40 includes the cylinder 41 fixed to thefront frame 21 of the frame unit 20; the piston 42 combined with themover 33 of the reciprocating motor 30 and performing a reciprocatingmotion in a compression space (P) formed inside the piston 41; a suctionvalve 43 installed on the front end of the piston 42 and restrictingsuction of a coolant gas by opening/closing a suction through hole 42 bof the piston 42; and a discharge valve assembly 44 installed on adischarge side of the cylinder 41 and restricting discharge of acompression gas by opening/closing the compression space (P).

[0010] As depicted in FIG. 2, in the piston 42, a rod-shaped headportion 42B having a certain length is formed at a side of a bodyportion 42A, and a connection portion 42C connected to the reciprocatingmotor 30 is formed at the other side of the body portion 42A.

[0011] And, a gas flow path (F) is pierced in the piston 42 so as toflow the coolant gas. The gas flow path (F) includes a suction path 42 aformed at the center of the body portion 42A so as to have a certaindepth and a suction through hole 42 b pierced in the head portion 42B soas to communicate with the suction path 42 a.

[0012] And, the suction through hole 42 b can be variously shapedaccording to a shape of the suction valve 43, in consideration of thesuction valve 43 shown in FIG. 2 which is a reed valve having two arms,plural suction through holes are formed at the edge of the piston 42.

[0013] And, the front end of the piston head portion 42B is a valvecontact surface (S) as a plane, and a combining groove 42 d is formed atthe center of the valve contact surface (S) to be combined with thesuction valve for opening/closing the suction through hole 42 b by abolt 60.

[0014] In the meantime, the suction valve 43 is made of a materialhaving strong elasticity, the center thereof is formed as a thincircular plate so to be corresponded to the valve contact surface (S) ofthe piston 42, a fixation portion 43 a is formed by cutting the centerof the circular plate, and the opening/closing portion 43 b having twoarms is formed at the end of the circular plate.

[0015] In addition, a combining hole 43 c is pierced in the fixationportion 43 a so as to correspond to the combining groove 42 d of thepiston 42, and the opening/closing portion 43 b is formed so as toopen/close the suction through hole 42 b of the piston 42.

[0016] And, in the combining bolt 60, a male screw is formed at the bodyportion 61 having a certain length, a bolt head portion 62 having acertain thickness and a hexagonal shape is formed at a certain side ofthe body portion 62, herein, a diameter of the head portion 62 issmaller than an imaginary circle connecting the inner ends of thesuction through hole 42 b.

[0017] In drawings, reference numeral 31 is an outer stator, 32 is aninner stator, 42 d is a combining groove, 43 c is a combining hole, 44Ais a discharge cover, 44B is a discharge valve, and 44C is a valvespring.

[0018] Hereinafter, the operation of the conventional reciprocatingcompressor will be described.

[0019] First, when power is applied to the reciprocating motor 30, fluxis formed between the outer stator 31 and the inner stator 32, the mover33 performs a linear reciprocating motion by being moved according tothe direction of the flux, according to it, the piston 42 performs thelinear reciprocating motion inside the cylinder 41, a pressuredifference occurs in the compression space (P) of the cylinder 41, thecoolant gas is sucked into the compression space (P) through the gassuction pipe (SP), is compressed up to a certain pressure, is dischargedthrough the gas discharge pipe (DP), and the process is performedrepeatedly.

[0020] In that process, as depicted in FIG. 3, when the piston 42 ismoved toward the bottom dead point, the discharge valve 44B is contactedto the end of the cylinder 41 and closes the compression space (P),simultaneously part of the suction valve 43 combined with the piston 42is curved by the pressure difference and opens the gas flow path (F) inthe piston 42. Herein, the coolant gas is sucked into the compressionspace (P) of the cylinder 41 through the gas flow path (F) of the piston42.

[0021] Afterward, when the piston 42 is moved from the bottom dead pointto the upper dead point, by the compression difference between thecompression space (P) and the suction space and the elastic force of thesuction valve 43, the curved suction valve 43 is straightened and closesthe gas flow path (F) of the piston 42, simultaneously the coolant gassucked into the compression space (P) of the cylinder 41 is compressed.And, when the piston 42 reaches the upper dead point almost, thedischarge valve 44B is open, and the compressed coolant gas isdischarged. The coolant gas is continually compressed by performing theabove-described process repeatedly.

[0022] However, in the conventional reciprocating, the opening/closingportion 43 b of the suction valve 43 closes/opens the suction valve 42 bby being contacted/separated to/from the front end of the piston 42, inthat operation, valve clash sound may occur when the suction valve 43clashes against the front end of the piston 42.

[0023] In addition, in fabricating of the suction through hole 42 b ofthe piston 42, burr occurs at the edge portion of the suction throughhole 42 b, however, it is difficult to remove the burr, the suctionvalve may clash against the burr in the opening/closing operation andmay be damaged by that.

[0024] In addition, by the compression difference of the compressionspace (P) of the cylinder 41 occurred by the reciprocating motion of thepiston 42, the suction valve 43 opens/closes the gas flow path (F) bybeing curved/straightened repeatedly, in that operation, the suctionvalve 43 may not be moved well, the compression gas may flow reverselyor a gas suction quantity may be lowered. In more detail, the coolantgas suction quantity is adjusted by using strength of the suction valve43, when strength of the suction valve 43 is comparatively weak, thesuction valve 43 may be excessively opened, the closing operation may bedelayed, and accordingly gas compressed in the compression space (P) maybe reversely flowed. On the contrary, when strength of the suction valve43 is comparatively strong, the opening operation of the suction valve43 may be delayed, and accordingly a coolant gas suction quantity may belowered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0025] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, it is an object ofthe present invention to provide a suction valve assembly of areciprocating compressor which is capable of reducing valve clash noiseoccurred in opening/closing of a suction valve, preventing the suctionvalve from being damaged due to clash against the front end of a pistonand improving an opening/closing speed of the suction valve installed onthe front end of the piston and restricting suction of a coolant gas.

[0026] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in areciprocating compressor including a cylinder forming a compressionspace; a piston slide-inserted into the compression space of thecylinder, having a gas path therein, inducing a fluid into thecompression space through the gas path and varying a volume of thecompression space while performing a linear reciprocating motion with amover of a reciprocating motor; a suction valve combined with the frontend of the piston detachably and adjusting suctioning of the fluid intothe compression space; and a discharge valve combined with the front endof the piston detachably and opening/closing the compression space ofthe cylinder in the linear reciprocating motion of the piston, a suctionvalve assembly of a reciprocating compressor in accordance with thepresent invention includes an elastic member installed on the front endof a piston facing a suction valve in order to absorb impact of thesuction valve in clash.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide afurther understanding of the invention and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of theinvention and together with the description serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

[0028] In the drawings:

[0029]FIG. 1 is a longitudinal-sectional view illustrating theconventional reciprocating compressor;

[0030]FIG. 2 is an exploded view illustrating a piston and a suctionvalve of the conventional reciprocating compressor;

[0031]FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating an operation state of acompression part of the conventional reciprocating compressor;

[0032]FIG. 4 is a longitudinal-sectional view illustrating a compressionunit of a suction valve assembly of a reciprocating compressor inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0033]FIG. 5 is an exploded view illustrating a piston and a suctionvalve of the suction valve assembly of the reciprocating compressor inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0034]FIG. 6 illustrates a closing process of the suction valve inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0035]FIG. 7 is an exploded view illustrating another example of thesuction valve assembly of the reciprocating compressor in accordancewith the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0036]FIG. 8 is an exploded view illustrating yet another example of thesuction valve assembly of the reciprocating compressor in accordancewith the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0037]FIG. 9 is a longitudinal-sectional view illustrating an example ofa compression unit of a suction valve assembly of a reciprocatingcompressor in accordance with a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0038]FIG. 10 is am exploded view illustrating the suction valveassembly of the reciprocating compressor in accordance with the secondembodiment of the present invention;

[0039]FIG. 11 is a longitudinal-sectional view illustrating theoperation process of the suction valve assembly of the reciprocatingcompressor in accordance with the second embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0040]FIG. 12 is a sectional view illustrating a compression part of asuction valve assembly of a reciprocating compressor in accordance witha third embodiment of the present invention;

[0041]FIG. 13 is an disassembled view illustrating a piston and asuction valve of the compression part of the suction valve assembly ofthe reciprocating compressor in accordance with the third embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0042]FIG. 14 is a front view illustrating combining of a suction path,a suction valve and a stopper of the suction valve assembly of thereciprocating compressor in accordance with the third embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0043]FIG. 15 is an sectional view illustrating the operation state ofthe compression part of the suction valve assembly of the reciprocatingcompressor in accordance with the third embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0044]FIG. 16 is a front view illustrating another example of thesuction valve assembly of the reciprocating compressor in accordancewith the third embodiment of the present invention;

[0045]FIG. 17 is a longitudinal-sectional view illustrating anotherexample of a compression part of the suction valve assembly of thereciprocating compressor in accordance with the third embodiment of thepresent invention; and

[0046]FIG. 18 is a partial-sectional view illustrating another exampleof a retainer of the suction valve assembly of the reciprocatingcompressor in accordance with the third embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0047] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to accompanying drawings.

[0048] First, a first embodiment of a suction valve assembly of areciprocating compressor in accordance with the present invention willbe described.

[0049]FIG. 4 is a longitudinal-sectional view illustrating a compressionunit of a suction valve assembly of a reciprocating compressor inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 isan exploded view illustrating a piston and a suction valve of thesuction valve assembly of the reciprocating compressor in accordancewith the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6illustrates a closing process of the suction valve in accordance withthe first embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] As depicted in FIGS. 4˜6, the suction valve assembly of thereciprocating compressor in accordance with the present inventionincludes a cylinder 41 inserted into a frame unit 20 (shown in FIG. 1)and having a compression space (P) therein; a piston 110 slide-insertedinto the compression space (P) of the cylinder 41, having a gas paththerein and varying a volume of the compression space (P) whileperforming a linear reciprocating motion with a mover 33 of areciprocating motor 30 (shown in FIG. 1); a suction valve 43 combinedwith the front end of the piston 110 detachably and opening/closing thesuction through hole 112; and an elastic member 120 inserted into thesuction through hole 112 of the piston 110 and absorbing impact inclosing of the suction valve 43.

[0051] In the piston 110, a suction path 111 is formed in the axialdirection, and plural suction through holes 112 are formed at theinternal end so as to communicate with the suction path 111 and piercethe front end of the suction valve 43.

[0052] The suction through hole 112 can be formed variously according toa shape of the suction valve 43, in consideration of the shape of anopening/closing portion 43 b of the suction valve 43 which is a reedvalve having two arms, plural suction through holes 112 are intensivelyformed at the edge of a certain side of the piston 110 as shown in FIG.5.

[0053] In addition, in order to lengthen the arm length of the suctionvalve 43 in forming, the suction through hole 112 abuts on the edge ofthe front end, a stepped portion 112 a is formed at the inner portion atwhich the suction through hole 112 and the suction path 111 meet eachother, and the elastic member 120 is mounted onto the stepped portion112 a.

[0054] The suction valve 43 is made of a material having strongelasticity, a fixation portion 43 a fixed to the front end of the piston110 is formed at the center of the suction valve 43, and theopening/closing portion 43 b having two arms is formed at the edge ofthe fixation portion 43 a so as to open/close the suction through hole112 of the piston 110.

[0055] The elastic member 130 is a compression coil spring, the elasticforce of the elastic member 130 is smaller than a gas force of thecompression gas acting on the back of a sealing surface of the suctionvalve 43 in closing of the suction valve 43 in order to prevent leakageof the compression gas due to loose-fitting of the opening/closingportion 43 b of the suction valve 43.

[0056] In addition, in order to fix the elastic member 120 by forciblyinserting it into the suction through hole 112 of the piston 110, aninner diameter of the suction through hole 112 is almost same with anouter diameter of the elastic member 120.

[0057] Parts same with those of the conventional art will have the samereference numerals.

[0058] Reference numeral 44A is a discharge cover, 44B is a dischargevalve, 44C is a valve spring, 113 is a combining groove, 123 is acombining hole, and 60 is a combining bolt.

[0059] The operation and advantages of the suction valve assembly of thereciprocating compressor in accordance with the first embodiment of thepresent invention will be described.

[0060] A mover 33 of the reciprocating motor 30 performs the linearreciprocating motion with the piston 110, a pressure difference occursin the compression space (P) of the cylinder 41 by the linearreciprocating motion of the piston 110 inside the cylinder 41, coolantgas is sucked into the compression space (P), is compressed anddischarged. The process is repeatedly performed.

[0061] Herein, when the piston 110 performs the suction process bymoving backward, the opening/closing portion 43 b of the suction valve43 is open centering around the fixation portion 43 a by being pushed bythe coolant gas to be sucked into the compression space (P) through thesuction path 111 and the suction through hole 112 of the piston 110,when the piston 110 performs the compression process by moving forward,the open opening/closing portion 43 b closes the suction through hole112, and the compression space (P) is closed.

[0062] Herein, in the closing of the suction valve 43, it may clashagainst the front end of the piston 110 and generate valve clash sound,however, in the present invention, it clashes first against the elasticmember 120 formed on the suction through hole 112 of the piston 110, theimpact is absorbed, and accordingly the valve clash noise of the suctionvalve 43 can be lowered.

[0063] In the meantime, as depicted in FIG. 7, a spring installationgroove 114 is additionally formed between the suction through holes 112of the piston 110′, and an elastic member 120 is forcibly inserted intothe spring installation groove 114.

[0064] In that case, a fabrication cost is increased in comparison withinserting the elastic member 120 into the suction through hole 112,however, flow resistance of a coolant gas is reduced, it is possible toimprove an efficiency of the compressor.

[0065] In addition, as depicted in FIG. 8, plural minute buffer grooves115 can be formed on the front end of a piston 110″ facing theopening/closing portion 43 b of the suction valve 43 besides the elasticmember 120.

[0066] In that case, part of suction gas or compression gas remains inthe buffer grooves 115, in the closing of the suction valve 43, clashsound occurred between he suction valve 43 and the piston 110 can belowered more efficiently.

[0067] Next, a suction valve assembly of a reciprocating compressor inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed.

[0068]FIG. 9 is a longitudinal-sectional view illustrating an example ofa compression unit of a suction valve assembly of a reciprocatingcompressor in accordance with a second embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 10 is am exploded view illustrating the suctionvalve assembly of the reciprocating compressor in accordance with thesecond embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] As depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10, in the suction valve assembly ofthe reciprocating compressor in accordance with the second embodiment ofthe present invention, a valve seat 220 is installed between the piston42 and the suction valve in order to prevent breakage of the suctionvalve 43.

[0070] The piston 42 includes the suction path 42 a and the pluralsuction through holes 42 b formed from the end of the suction path 42 ato the front end of the piston 42.

[0071] The suction path 42 a is formed in fabricating of the piston 42,and the suction through holes 42 b are formed by drilling, etc. afterthe fabrication of the piston 42.

[0072] In addition, the suction path 42 a is lengthily formed from therear end to the front end of the piston 42 a. On the contrary, theplural suction through holes 42 b are formed at the edge of the frontend.

[0073] And, the suction through holes 42 b can be variously shapedaccording to a shape of the suction valve 42.

[0074] The suction valve 43 is made of a material having strongelasticity, a fixation portion 43 a fixed to the front end of the piston42 is formed at the center of the suction valve 43, and theopening/closing portion 43 b having two arms is formed at the edge ofthe fixation portion 43 a so as to open/close the suction through holes42 b of the piston 42.

[0075] And, a combining hole 43 c is formed at the center of thefixation portion 43 a in order to fix the suction valve 43 and the valveseat 200 together in the combining groove 42 d formed at the frontcenter of the piston 42 by a combining bolt 60.

[0076] And, the valve seat 200 is formed as a thin circular shape samewith the front end of the piston 42. In the valve seat 200, a suctionhole 201 having the same position and size with the suction through hole42 b of the piston 42 is formed at the side of the edge, and a throughhole 202 is formed at the center so as to pass the combining bolt 60passing the combining hole 43 c of the suction valve 43.

[0077] In the meantime, it is preferable for the valve seat 200 to bemade of the same material with the suction valve 43 in order to preventthe valve seat 200 from being damaged in clash against the suction valve43.

[0078] Parts same with those of the conventional art will have the samereference numerals.

[0079] Reference numeral 44 is a discharge valve assembly, 44A is adischarge cover, 44B is a discharge valve, and 44C is a valve spring.

[0080] Hereinafter, the operation and advantages of the suction valveassembly of the reciprocating compressor in accordance with the secondembodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0081] In the coolant gas suction, compression and discharge process,the suction valve assembly of the reciprocating compressordetaches/separates to/from the front end of the piston 42 by the coolantgas sucked through the suction path 42 a and the suction through hole 42b in the backward moving of the piston 42 and the coolant gas compressedin the compression space (P) in the forward moving of the piston 42,when the front end of the piston 42 is not evenly processed, becauseimpact acting on the suction valve 43 is irregular, a portion receivingcomparatively greater impact is damaged first, and later a whole suctionvalve 43 may be damaged. However, as depicted in FIG. 11, by installingthe valve seat 200 having the even both sides between the front end ofthe piston 42 and the suction valve 43, when the suction valve 43 isclosed, it contacts to the even surface of the valve seat 200, andaccordingly breakage of the suction valve 43 can be prevented fromoccurring.

[0082] Accordingly, by applying the valve seat, it is possible to copeeasily with burr occurred in a later process such as a drilling processof the piston 42.

[0083] Next, a suction valve assembly of a reciprocating compressor inaccordance with a third embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed.

[0084]FIG. 12 is a sectional view illustrating a compression part of asuction valve assembly of a reciprocating compressor in accordance witha third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 13 is an disassembledview illustrating a piston and a suction valve of the compression partof the suction valve assembly of the reciprocating compressor inaccordance with the third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 14is a front view illustrating combining of a suction path, a suctionvalve and a stopper of the suction valve assembly of the reciprocatingcompressor in accordance with the third embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 15 is an sectional view illustrating the operationstate of the compression part of the suction valve assembly of thereciprocating compressor in accordance with the third embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0085] As depicted in FIGS. 12˜15, a compression part of the suctionvalve assembly of the reciprocating compressor in accordance with thethird embodiment of the present invention includes a cylinder 41 havinga trough hole 41 a forming a compression space (P); a piston 42 combinedwith a motor part and inserted into the through hole 41 a of thecylinder 41 so as to perform the linear reciprocating motion; adischarge valve assembly 44 combined with the end of the piston 41 so asto cover the through hole 41 a; a suction valve 43 combined with the endof the piston 42 so as to open/close a gas path (F) formed inside thepiston 42; and a combining bolt 300 for fixing the suction valve 43 tothe piston 42 and restricting an open degree of the suction valve 43.

[0086] In the piston 42, a rod-shaped head portion 42B having a certainlength is formed at a side of a body portion 42A, and a connectionportion 42C connected to the motor part is formed at the other side ofthe body portion 42A, and the gas flow (F) is pierced in the piston 42so as to flow the coolant gas. The gas flow path (F) includes a suctionpath 42 a formed at the center of the body portion 42A so as to have acertain depth and a suction through hole 42 b pierced in the headportion 42B so as to communicate with the suction path 42 a.

[0087] And, the front end of the piston head portion 42B is a valvecontact surface (S) as a plane, and a combining groove 42 d is formed atthe valve contact surface (S), and the suction valve 43 is installedonto the valve contact surface (S) so as to open/close the suctionthrough hole 42 b.

[0088] As depicted in FIG. 13, in the suction valve 43, the centerthereof is formed as a thin circular plate so to be corresponded to thevalve contact surface (S) of the piston 42, a fixation portion 43 a isformed by cutting the center of the circular plate, and theopening/closing portion 43 b having two arms is formed at the edge ofthe circular plate connected to the fixation portion 43 a.

[0089] A combining hole 43 c is pierced in the fixation portion 43 a soas to correspond to the combining groove 42 d of the piston 42, and theopening/closing portion 43 b is formed so as to open/close the suctionthrough hole 42 b of the piston 42.

[0090] In the combining bolt 60, a male screw is formed at the bodyportion 61 having a certain length, a bolt head portion 62 having acertain thickness and a hexagonal shape is formed at a certain side ofthe body portion 62.

[0091] As depicted in FIG. 14, a diameter of the head portion 62 isgreater than an imaginary circle connecting the inner ends of thesuction through hole 42 b so as to overlap with the suction through hole42 b.

[0092] In addition, as depicted in FIG. 15, in the combining bolt 300, astepped portion 303 is formed between the end of the body portion 301and the head portion 302 so as to compress the front end of the headportion 42B of the piston 42 by pressing the fixation portion 43 a ofthe suction valve 43 or an interval maintaining member, etc. such as awasher (not shown) can be inserted.

[0093] The stepped portion or the interval maintaining member has acertain length in order to make the opening/closing portion 43 b have aninterval contactable to the head portion 302 of the combining bolt 300when the opening/closing portion 43 b of the suction valve 43 is open, asection area thereof is greater than a diameter of the through hole 43 cand is smaller than the imaginary circle connecting the inner ends ofthe suction through hole 42 b.so sa to press only the circumference ofthe through hole 43 c of the suction valve 43.

[0094] Parts same with those of the conventional art will have the samereference numerals.

[0095] Reference numeral 44 is a discharge valve assembly, 44A is adischarge cover, 44B is a discharge valve, and 44C is a valve spring.

[0096] The operation and advantages of the suction valve assembly of thereciprocating compressor in accordance with the third embodiment of thepresent invention will be described.

[0097] The piston 42 of the compression part performs the linearreciprocating motion inside the cylinder 41 by receiving the drivingforce of the motor part.

[0098] In that process, as depicted in FIG. 15, when the piston 42 ismoved toward the bottom dead point, the discharge valve 44B is contactedto the end of the cylinder 41 and closes the compression space (P),simultaneously part of the suction valve 43 combined with the piston 42is curved by the pressure difference and opens the gas flow path (F) inthe piston 42. Herein, the coolant gas is sucked into the compressionspace (P) of the cylinder 41 through the gas flow path (F) of the piston42.

[0099] Afterward, when the piston 42 is moved from the bottom dead pointto the upper dead point, by the compression difference between thecompression space (P) and the suction space and the elastic force of thesuction valve 43, the curved suction valve 43 is straightened and closesthe gas flow path (F) of the piston 42, simultaneously the coolant gassucked into the compression space (P) of the cylinder 41 is compressed.And, when the piston 42 reaches the upper dead point almost, thedischarge valve 44B is open, and the compressed coolant gas isdischarged. The coolant gas is continually compressed by performing theabove-described process repeatedly.

[0100] Herein, in the opening of the suction valve 43, by forming thehead portion 302 of the combining bolt 300 fixed to the piston 42 so asto have the width overlapped with part of the opening/closing portion 43b of the suction valve 43, because the opening/closing portion 43 b iscaught on the head portion 302 of the combining bolt 300 in the opening,the opening is restricted, and accordingly it is possible to prevent thesuction valve 43 from being excessively open and adjust a closing timeappropriately although a strength of he suction valve 43 is lowered.

[0101] Hereinafter, other examples of the third embodiment of thesuction valve assembly of the reciprocating compressor in accordancewith the present invention will be described.

[0102] In more detail, in the above-described embodiment, the opening ofthe opening/closing portion 43 b of the suction valve 43 is adjusted byusing the head portion 302 of the combining bolt 300, however, in thepresent embodiment, as depicted in FIGS. 16 and 17, a retainer 400 isinstalled between the suction valve 43 and a combining bolt 300′.

[0103] The more the retainer gets close to the discharge valve 44B, theretainer is covered toward the compression space (P) with a certainradius of curvature, and it has a length so as to be overlapped with thepart of the opening/closing portion 43 b of the suction valve 43.

[0104] In addition, the retainer 400 has to have a strength capable ofrestricting the opening degree of the suction valve 43, however, asdepicted in FIG. 18, it is preferable for the retainer 400 to have astrength capable of reducing volume in clash against the discharge valve44B by being smoothly bent.

[0105] Because the retainer in accordance with the present embodimentperforms almost the same function of the head portion of the combiningbolt in accordance with the above-described embodiment, detaileddescription will be abridged.

[0106] In more detail, in each embodiment of the suction valve assemblyof the reciprocating compressor in accordance with the presentinvention, by installing an elastic member for absorbing impact of thesuction valve on the front end of the piston facing the suction valve,it is possible to buffer clash between the suction valve and the frontend of the piston, it is possible to reduce valve clash noise occurredin opening/closing of the suction valve, and accordingly a reliabilityof the compressor can be improved.

[0107] In addition, by adding a valve seat made of the same materialwith the suction valve and having an even surface, in theopening/closing of the suction valve, it is possible to prevent thesuction valve from being damaged by burr, etc. from occurring, andaccordingly a reliability of the compressor can be improved.

[0108] In addition, by using a combining bolt for fixing the suctionvalve to the piston or using an additional retainer, an open degree ofthe suction valve is restricted, when a strength of the suction valve isreduced, an opening/closing speed of the valve can be improved byadjusting an open degree of the valve appropriately, and accordingly anefficiency of the compressor can be improved.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a reciprocating compressor including acylinder forming a compression space; a piston slide-inserted into thecompression space of the cylinder, having a gas path therein, inducing afluid into the compression space through the gas path and varying avolume of the compression space while performing a linear reciprocatingmotion with a mover of a reciprocating motor; a suction valve combinedwith the front end of the piston detachably and adjusting suctioning ofthe fluid into the compression space; and a discharge valve combinedwith the front end of the piston detachably and opening/closing thecompression space of the cylinder in the linear reciprocating motion ofthe piston, a suction valve assembly of a reciprocating compressor,comprising: an elastic member installed on the front end of a pistonfacing a suction valve in order to absorb impact of the suction valve inclash.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastic member isinserted into a gas path of a piston or a groove formed around the gaspath.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein plural buffer grooves in whicha fluid can remain are formed at the front end of the piston.
 4. Theassembly of claim 2, wherein plural buffer grooves in which a fluid canremain are formed at the front end of the piston.
 5. The assembly ofclaim 1, further comprising: a valve seat installed between the suctionvalve and the front end of the piston to absorb clash impact inopening/closing of the suction valve.
 6. The assembly of claim 5,wherein the valve seat is made of the same material of the suctionvalve.
 7. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a combiningmember consisting of a body portion passing the through hole of thevalve and combined with the combining groove of the piston and a headportion formed at the end of the body portion, having a certain width soas to be overlapped with part of the opening/closing portion of thevalve in order to restrict opening of the valve.
 8. The assembly ofclaim 7, wherein a stepped portion is formed at the end of the headportion of the combining member in order to make the center portion ofthe suction valve contact to the front end of the piston tightly.
 9. Theassembly of claim 7, wherein a washer is inserted-combined between thecombining member and the suction valve in order to make the centerportion of the suction valve contact to the front end of the pistontightly.
 10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the stepped portion isformed as one body with the combining member so as to contact with thesurface of the compression space of the suction valve.
 11. The assemblyof claim 7, wherein a head portion of the suction valve has a certainwidth so as to overlap with part of a suction through hole.
 12. Theassembly of claim 1, further comprising: a retainer installed betweenthe suction valve and the combining member and having a length so as tobe overlapped with part of the opening/closing portion of the suctionvalve in order to restrict an opening degree of the suction valve. 13.The assembly of claim 12, wherein the retainer is made of materialhaving elasticity.
 14. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the retainerhas a certain length so as to be overlapped with part of the suctionthrough hole.
 15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the retainer is madeof material having elasticity.